Auto Racing News - 28 February 2025

March will be here tomorrow and whether it snows or rains there will be plenty to do this month. Even though the off season was busy for many. The activity calendar will definitely pick up now for all motorsports fans.

Saturday the Royal Mountain Ski Area at 3072 State Highway in Caroga Lake will host an evening of Renegade Racing Snowmobiles-Racing Series-Snow Drags. Sign-in will be from 4:00 pm. until 6:00 pm., test passes will take place at 6:00 pm., and racing will begin at 7:00 pm.

 Tomorrow is also the last day to purchase banquet tickets for the Fonda Speedway, Utica-Rome Speedway, Brookfield Speedway, and Short Track Super Series 2024 awards banquet, which will be held next Saturday, March 8. Please check their facebook page or website to place your ticket order.

 Saturday, March 8 Elmo's Speed & Supply along with JAM Performance will conduct their North East Dirt Modified Seminar. This will take place at the Polish Community Center in Albany from 9:00 am. Until 4:00 pm. The day will be filled with numerous speakers and presenters to help racers with their set-ups and results in the garage and at the track. The cost is $100 and includes breakfast and lunch. You can contact Elmo's at 518-429-4746.

 Next week will see the second annual Lebanon Valley Speedway Race Car Show, Friday & Saturday March 7 & 8  at the Colonie Center Mall located at  the corner of Wolf Road and Central Avenue in Albany. Over 30 race cars are planned to be on exhibit, along with Go-Karts, face painting, bicycle give-a-ways, and other activities for the youngsters. Show hours are listed as 10:00 am. until 8:00 pm. for both days.

 Being held on next Saturday and Sunday, March 8 & 9 is the 36th. annual Syracuse Motorsports Exposition & Trade Show at the New York State Fairgrounds. Show hours are 10:00 am. until 8:00 pm. Saturday and 10:00 am. until 4:00 pm. Sunday. On display will be race cars , race track exhibits, vendors, and more.  Looking back at results from last weekend. Starting back on last Friday, Stewart Friesen of Sprakers qualified eighth for Saturday's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series FR8 208 race at the 1.5 mile Atlanta Motor Speedway in  Hampton, Georgia. Race day was a very exciting day for the crew of the Halmar-Friesen Racing number 52 Toyota Tundra. 

Friesen started in the aforementioned eighth position to begin the FR8 208 and stayed within the top ten for the majority of the 135-lap event. Friesen finished sixth in the first 30-lap stage and eighth in the second 30-lap stage. The third and final stage would see Friesen and his team really shine as he crept into the top ten, then the top five, and in the closing laps Friesen was battling for the lead with Kyle Busch and Friesen was credited with leading lap 134. However, the experience of many years and races would win the race as Busch, the all-time winner (now 67) in truck series racing, would manage to cross the finish line with just about a three foot (0.017) second advantage over Friesen. For Friesen it was his first career top five finish at Atlanta and although disappointed to not be able to raise the winner's trophy in celebration. Friesen definitely was pleased with the improvement and accomplishment of himself and the whole Halmar-Friesen Racing team as were many television viewers in the northeast. After two races Friesen is listed as ninth in the current point standings with 62 points.

 Former Fonda Speedway and Albany-Saratoga Speedway modified track champion Demetrios Drellos of Queensbury was in Clewiston, Florida at the Hendry County Motorsports Park where he competed in the Crate Racin' U.S.A. Swamp Cabbage 100 for late models. Mark Whitener won the 75-lap feature with Drellos finishing 10th.

 Well, just to let you know, there are still non-bowling tickets available for the March 16th. Shaffer Racing Team-Bowling Tournament & Party in Amsterdam. However, all spots are currently full in regard to the bowling teams, with a waiting list. Even if you do not bowl there will be plenty of basket, gift raffles, and fun to take part in.

 With the Fonda Speedway and Utica-Rome Speedway race car shows only a couple weeks away. Now is the time to get in your registration application. Please contact Jamie Page at jpage15@stny.rr.com